Method and system for determining existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition in a wireless network

Abstract

Described is a method for determining an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition. A wireless coverage map of a wireless network is generated as a function of a location of at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network. The first signal data includes a first signal strength of a wireless signal communicated between the at least one access point and a wireless device. A second signal data is received. The second signal data includes a second signal strength of a further wireless signal communicated between one of the at least one access point and a further wireless device. The existence of the predetermined wireless network coverage condition is determined as a function of the second signal data and the wireless coverage map.

Description

BACKGROUND INFORMATION [0001] Wireless networks generally include one or more access points (“APs”) wirelessly connected to one or more mobile units (“MUs”) using radio frequency (“RF”) signals. Wireless networks are frequency utilized in physical landscapes in which changes thereto may cause an RF coverage to be weakened or completely lost. For example, adding, removing and / or rearranging items within the landscape may result in a weaker signal strength between the APs and MUs or a coverage gap in the RF coverage. The RF signals may also be affected by other RF signals from adjacent or nearby wireless devices (e.g., MUs, APs, wireless switches, etc.). [0002] To overcome these conditions and provide resilient RF coverage, network administrators typically deploy more APs than are necessary throughout the landscape to obtain the necessary RF coverage. Thus, at any given point within the landscape, the MU may connect to the network through a plurality of APs. Because the connection bet...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0003] The present invention is related to a method for determining an existence of a predetermined wireless network coverage condition. A wireless coverage map of a wireless network is generated as a function of a location of at least one access point and a first signal data collected at a plurality of locations within the network. The first signal data includes a first signal strength of a wireless signal communicat...

Problems solved by technology

Wireless networks are frequency utilized in physical landscapes in which changes thereto may cause an RF coverage to be weakened or completely lost.

For example, adding, removing and / or rearranging items within the landscape may result in a weaker signal strength between the APs and MUs or a coverage gap in the RF coverage.

Because the connection between the MU and the network is maintained between the MU and at least one AP, the administrator may not be made aware of a problematic condition with the APs which the MU is not associated with.

The problematic condition may be, for example, a malfunctioning AP and / or a characteristic of the landscape (e.g., items blocking RF signals to / from AP).

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